Michigan
Governor Granholm signed a Republican-sponsored
bill to raise the state’s minimum wage
on March 28, 2006. What does this mean for UFCW
951 members?
Why
isn’t new contract language available when
members vote on a new agreement with an employer?
What
does UFCW 951 stand for?
Who makes
up UFCW 951?
Who
decides things with UFCW 951?
Who works
for UFCW 951?
Where
is UFCW 951 in my workplace?
How do I find out who my Union Rep is?
What
if my Union Rep doesn’t call back?
How can I contact my Union?
What is my union contract?
How are union dues calculated?
What are the benefits of Union membership?
How can I learn more about my Union?
Where are membership meetings held?
Where do I find Union Notices at my workplace?
How can I get the Local Newsletter?
What does UFCW 951 stand for? 
Your union brings democracy to the workplace. It ensures you have an effective voice in determining working conditions, wages, benefits, and policies that bring success to the employer and to you and your family. Like the city council of your community or any other democratic body, your union needs your involvement to achieve the best results.
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Who makes up UFCW 951?
You do ! You and
about 33,000 other members across Michigan at
Meijer, Harding’s, Polly’s, Plumb’s,
Knouse Foods, Kroger, Rite Aid, Orchard Grove
Extended & Fry
Krisp.
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Who decides things with UFCW 951?
You do! Members elected the current Executive Board and Officers to three year terms in September 2004. Fifty-nine members serve on the Board, which oversees and approves the Union’s activities. Five Officers lead the Board:
President Marv Russow
Secretary/Treasurer
Larry Radke
Recorder Karin
Hopman
Executive
Vice President Tamara Vander Ark
Executive
Vice President John Cakmakci
Organizing Director Todd Regis
502
Stewards
Click here to meet the Executive Board
The UFCW International Union holds a convention every five years (the next one is scheduled for 2008). UFCW 951 members nominate members and vote for delegates to the convention who then decide on changes to the International Constitution, membership dues, and policies and structure of the UFCW.
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Who works for UFCW 951?
* The five Executive Officers
* Twenty-one Union Representatives (“Reps”)
* Staff members, largely based in Grand Rapids , handle the Union ’s finances, community foundation, organizing, political lobbying, communications, and membership records.
Everyone employed by UFCW 951 is also a member and pays dues according to the same formula as members working at employers like Meijer or Harding’s.
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Where is UFCW 951 in my workplace?
Stewards
One or more members volunteer or are elected to serve as Stewards at your workplace. While they receive their paycheck from and have job duties for your employer, Stewards are also our Union ’s grassroots representatives. They can answer your questions, help correct problems, and ensure you receive the rights and benefits guaranteed by your contract and your union membership.
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How do I find out who my Union Rep is?
UFCW 951 currently employs 22 “Reps” who each represent many workplaces where they meet with members and managers and work with Stewards to solve problems.
Reps are based at worksites, not the 951 offices. If you call your Rep, leave a message with your name and a place and time he or she can call you back. You’ll get a call back within 48 hours.
Click here to find your Union Representative
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What if my Union Rep doesn’t call back?
UFCW 951 Reps are based in the stores they
serve, not the 951 office. This means that you
won’t be able to get them on the phone when you
call the 951 office unless they happen to be
picking up their mail or having a meeting. You
can leave a message for your Rep twenty-four
hours a day, 365 days a year by calling
800-999-0951.
Reps will return your message within forty-eight
hours. Please be sure to include not only your
name and store number in your message, but also
a phone number where you can be reached and when
is the best time to call. You’d be surprised how
many members call to complain about not hearing
back from their Rep only to learn they never
left a way for the Rep to call them back!
If your Rep hasn’t contacted you within
forty-eight hours, you can call the 951 office
and ask to leave a message with your Rep’s
supervisor who will find out what’s going on.
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How can I contact my Union?
Call the UFCW 951 office in Grand Rapids at 800.999.0951 Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM. You can also leave voicemail messages twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
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What is my union contract?
Your contract governs wages, benefits, seniority rights, vacation and holiday time, and many other aspects of your job. UFCW 951 and your employer negotiate to create this agreement and it is voted on by all members who work for your employer.
If you would like a copy of your contract, ask your Steward or Rep, call the 951 office (800-999-0951), or check our Find Your Rep page.
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How are union dues calculated?
UFCW 951 dues
are usually deducted weekly, divided according
to a monthly formula: two hours at your pay rate
plus $11 or the UFCW International minimum (currently
$25.08).
After your first four weeks when no dues are collected, you’ll see double your normal dues amount deducted from your paycheck for the next four weeks. This procedure allows UFCW 951 to avoid the large, up-front
initiation fee charged by many other local unions.
After those second four weeks, your dues will be deducted at the regular rate—set once a year based on your pay rate on a certain date (ask which date applies for your employer).
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What are the benefits of Union membership?
On top of the basic benefits of union membership—higher wages and contract-based raises, health care coverage, vacation and sick pay, and workplace representation—you can enjoy many other advantages belonging to a union.
As one example, check out the Union Plus Program at www.UnionPlus.org for discounts on things like:
• cell phones
• car rentals
• computers
• legal advice
• home mortgages
• auto purchases & insurance
With the UFCW’s departure from the AFL-CIO, some of the Union Plus programs are being renegotiated for members of Change To Win coalition unions. Please keep an eye out for new union benefits.
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How can I learn more about my Union?
In addition to contacting your Stewards and Reps, UFCW 951 has many ways for you to get answers to your questions and share your ideas.
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Where are Membership meetings held?
Quarterly membership
meetings are open to all members to ask questions
and hear what's going on in our industry, at
our employers, and in our organization. We meet
in January, April, July, and October at 7:00
PM at the following locations (see the “Meetings” page
in Member Services for addresses):
- UFCW 951 Grand Rapids Office
- UFCW 951 New Hudson Office
- Holiday Inn on South Cedar Street in Lansing
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Where do I find Union Notices at my workplace?
Look for the UFCW 951 bulletin boards in your store. Your Rep and Stewards will post notices and other Union materials for you.
Stewards and Reps also hold in- or near-store meetings to discuss issues and Union programs.
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How
can I get the Local Newsletter?
Your Rep or Steward can give you a copy of our newsletter, the Update. UFCW 951 mails its newsletter to members’ homes at least four times each year. Contact your Steward, Rep, or the Communications Department in Grand Rapids to let us know what you think or if you have any story ideas or photos.
Click here to Submit News Item for consideration.
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Michigan
Governor Granholm signed a
Republican-sponsored bill to raise the state’s
minimum wage on March 28, 2006. What does this
mean for UFCW 951 members?
The federal government has not raised the
national minimum wage since 1997 and with
skyrocketing costs (especially for gasoline,
natural gas, and electricity), $5.15 per hour
just doesn’t cut it. That $5.15 is worth about
17% less today than in 1997!
UFCW 951 believes in the Change To Win
federation’s call to “make work pay” and raising
the minimum wage helps all working families,
whether or not they have union representation.
UFCW 951’s contracts have provisions to help our
members as the minimum wage increases. Article
15.2 in the Meijer contract specifies that if
any part of the contract becomes invalid due to
a change in law or regulation, the Union and
employer will meet to renegotiate the part of
the contract affected.
Certainly—with the exception of “training rates”
for those under 18 during their first three
months of work—no one will earn less than the
new minimum wage. In addition, UFCW 951 won’t
support cuts from top rates to offset increases
of the starting rate.
It is also important to know that the new law affects the rate only for those currently working at minimum wage and is not an across-the-board pay raise for everyone working in Michigan.
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Why isn’t new contract language available
when members vote on a new agreement with an
employer?
While negotiations with an employer produce an
agreement for members to vote on, the contract
language describing the agreement isn’t
finalized until later. This is because it takes
significant time for both sides to compare and
approve legal contract language. The contract
language must match and support what the
agreement set out.
If the Union waited until this language was
finalized to present agreements to members, new
agreements could not go into effect until many
months after negotiations completed.
For example, negotiations for the new
mBenefitsConnect agreement finished in August
2005. Members voted on and approved the
agreement in October 2005 and could enroll in
the new benefits plans by March 2006. Lawyers on
all sides did not complete and agree to the
exact new contract language until a month later.
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